Making a basic home-gym is often less expensive than a year’s basic gym membership, and the equipment belongs to you!I have utilized pre-owned sports equipment stores often and have found success controlling the cost that way.Otherwise, sport stores and on-line retailers are a good source.Some basic pieces that are helpful are:

-Your own body weight!Push-ups, triceps dips, yoga, step climbing, walking, burpees etc. is just a short list of exercises that require nothing else except a quality pair of sports shoes and the will to change

-Dumbbells- Cost average at $1 per pound of weight.You can choose standard dumbbells, rubber coated, or kettle bells.

-Tubes- These come in a variety of colors that vary in difficulty and can run about $15 per tube. Black is the hardest I’ve seen and pink is the easiest.You can find them as singles with handles, doubled up with a toggle attached that you can hook over a door for additional exercises.They are easy to throw in a suitcase (I always travel with them never knowing if hotels have adequate facilities).

-Yoga mat ($20- $30)

-Workout bench ($150- $400; or pre-owned about $40)

-Jump rope ($8-15)

-DVDs-I use these every day and have a rotation of different ones to keep these fresh and keep my muscles quessing.They come in handy when the weather isn’t cooperating, or I’m travelling.I have seen name brand DVDs available at Half Price Books and on Amazon.

Instability discs- These come in small version (6 inch) up 24 inches (Bosu).They can be used to provide instability to engage your core muscles while doing curls, push- ups, plank, lunges and a variety of exercises.

You can invest as little or as much as your interest and budget will allow, but I am in the best shape of my life, and I don’t belong to a gym!